APRIL 2, 2012 WEIGHT SLIMMING HERBS

" In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein

It seems that we all have one difficult problem or another these days. If it doesn't involve financial concerns, it usually involves health. I meditate through all my difficulties. I really do. I look at the brighter side of circumstances these days. I never used to, but life has changed. I grew older. I grew wiser. And I grew to meditate and pray.

A bigger difficulty in America today is the quick way to lose weight. There is no quick way to lose weight correctly. It takes time, patience and persistence. It takes a change in dietary and exercise lifestyle.

Patients always ask me , "What herb makes you lose weight? Are there any medicinal herbs to lose weight?" One of my first projects as a registered herbalist was to study weight loss herbs. There is not much written. I did take this on and with assistance, herbalSLIMtea was born. It contains 5 medicinal herbs to assist in losing weight. There are also diuretic, laxative and stimulating herbs that contain caffeine for weight loss. One of the first was ma huang (Ephedra sinica) which reduces appetite and contributes to weight loss. While studying at the University of Arizona Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, one of my mentors, Dr. T Low Dog was on the committee to ban this herb. It was banned in 2006 for OTC (over the counter) weight loss supplements. It had fatal side effects.

Since we are in the midst of two epidemics called obesity and diabetes, everyone is interested in herbs that affect insulin levels, thus allowing for weight loss. I honestly have not seen overwhelming results with these herbs, but some weight loss. These herbs improve insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is also known as Syndrome X.

The two herbs touted for weight loss are 1. Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestra) and Hoodia (Hoodia gordonii). Gymnema allows the individual to lose the taste for sugar. It wipes out the taste therefore helping to control blood sugar levels. I feel it doesn't help with weight loss, but definitely without a doubt decreases sugar cravings. Try some. Put a little taste of this herb on your tongue and you immediately will not want to eat chocolate ice cream, pastries, etc.

Hoodia has appetite suppressing action . I haven't seen much literature on Hoodia. The American Botanical Council has a review on Hoodia with some evidence to back up its claim, but I have not been impresseds by it in my clinical use with patients.
In addition, Hoodia is from Africa, and there have been reports that the amount of Hoodia on the vitamin shelves far exceeds the amount of hoodia being grown. So you have to wonder, is what you are buying the real Hoodia?

There are other herbs for balancing sugar levels (diabetes). There is bitter melon, fenugreek, and rosemary. There is an herb which I must research and study that unlike gymnema does not appear to increase insulin. This herb is Banaba leaf (Lager-stroemea ssp). There are good studies on this herb. The dose is from 16-48 mg. Consult a qualified physician/herbalist before using any herb, especially if you are on a glucose lowering conventional drug.

Until tomorrow...

Photographs: Left to Right

1. Banaba leaf

2. Gymnema

3. Hoodia

AUGUST 8, 2011 TRUST A COLEUS PLANT

"Trust but verify." - Ronald Reagan

"When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself a public property." Thomas Jefferson

"If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists--to protect them and to promote their common welfare- all else is lost."- Barack Obama

Three United States presidents define trust. I agree with all three quotes. I am not sure I do trust the government at this point. I want to... believe me, but what is happening to health care in this country worries me. It also makes me not trust the government and its role in Medicare and in medicine as a whole. What has happened to the United States? Have you ever lost your trust in somebody? I think we all can answer 'yes' at one point in our lives. I believe I trust my instincts, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, but the second half of this quote is, "...I can render no reason." I have learned to listen and not speak. I put the cotton in my mouth as I take it out of my ears. Coupled with observation, this listening skill has enhanced my intuition. You will never know if you trust someone unless you trust them. (Mr Hemingway said it better than I.) I trust today. I know I trust Rick without hesitation. I trust my own instincts without hesitation. I trust 'true friends' without hesitation.

I trust William Shakespeare's quote, "Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."

WE ALL WANT THE QUICK FIX FOR WEIGHT LOSS!

If everyone could lose weight with no dietary restrictions and no exercise, everyone would do it. Unfortunately the quick fixes do not work very well. But there are some herbs that can help with acceleration of weight loss and act as fat burners.

The Ayurvedic herb, Coleus forskohii has been used for many centuries. I have used it to treat an under active thyroid and respiratory disorders, especially asthma. The unique chemical compound isolated from this herb is forskolin. When I think of coleus, I think of an herbal supplement for both men and women to enhance sexual dysfunction. There are studies to support its use for sexual stamina, orgasims, climaxes and even erectile dysfunction (although I prefer argnine for that).

The active compound, forskolin has been studied to increase lean body mass and optimize composition of the body. In 2004 a University did a double blind placebo controlled study on 23 overweight women with a 12 week follow-up. This study found forskolin effective in reducing weight and increasing lean body mass, but we need more studies with more subjects and more follow-up.

I have one patient who swears that coleus is helpful for her chronic urinary tract infections.
I have not used coleus for weight loss yet.

I have used herbalSLIMtea for weight management. I know it works because I have tested this formulation on patients.
I know it works because I have used it on myself. The best news is that it is the first herbal supplement I have formulated since obtaining my herbalist degree RH-AHG (Registered Herbalist - American Herbal Guild).

It combines in tincture form five herbs:

-Dandelion

-Rosemary

-Fenugreek

-Chamomile

-Bladderwrack

It must be used with caution in patients with high blood pressure or an overactive thyroid. I used it first by drinking one cup of tea (made with all five herbs- I added a little raw honey for taste) Now it is available in tincture form (sugar and alcohol-free).

TRY IT - www.longevitynutritionals.com

Until tomorrow...